Returned: Chili Cookoff Trophy and coffee pots

It all started when a Corbin firefighter visited dispatch at Corbin City Hall and noticed a shiny Chili Cookoff trophy sitting on a shelf.

Photo courtesy of Corbin Fire Department Facebook page

On his way out, the firefighter nabbed the trophy, which would later be used to taunt the Corbin Police Department.

At 6:05 p.m. on Feb. 18, the first post of a back and forth saga was posted to the Corbin Fire Department’s Facebook page.

“It was a bad day losing the chili cook-off, but is losing the championship trophy worse? Let’s see if your investigators can figure out where it’s hiding Corbin Police Department,” read the post.

The police department decided to bide its time and wait for the firefighters to be paged out on a call.

“The second shift decided we couldn’t sit idle and let them poke fun. So, it was a group effort including our dispatchers and we waited for a fire call to sneak over and locate our trophy,” said Patrolman Brentley Patrick. “Instead we happened upon the coffee pots and figured that would be super inconvenient pay back.”

“For those of you that do not know, Corbin Fire Department decided it was a good idea to steal our chili cook off trophy. We do not play games and have tactically acquired their only two coffee pots,” the police department wrote on its Facebook page. “The coffee pots are having a better time without you [Corbin Fire Department]. But, we might be willing to trade for our trophy and a letter of apology.”

The post was accompanied by nine different photos of the fire department’s coffee pots in various locations around Corbin.

In a surprise turn of events, the fire department posted a photo of a third coffee pot sitting beside the coveted Chili Cookoff trophy at the fire department.

“Oh, you know, Corbin Police Department, just sitting here drinking a fresh pot of coffee with your trophy in the warmth while you’re walking the cold streets with an empty pot,” the fire department said.

The trophy and coffee pots remained in the hands of the ‘feuding’ departments until Feb. 19 when the Corbin Police Department posted a photo of a full pot in front of the fire department’s bay declaring it had decided a ransom.

“We have decided our ransom,” the police department posted. “Please donate to the canned food drive at the Cumberland Falls HWY Speedway (exit 25) and the pots won’t be harmed. We need video or photo evidence of this transaction. They have a box set up. The sooner you donate the sooner you can have some caffeine.”

At 4:45 p.m. on Feb. 19, representatives from the fire department and police department met at the Cumberland Falls Highway Speedway gas station, to return the items.

“We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to donate to a good cause, but we also challenged the PD to make a donation of their own in order to get their trophy back. It’s been a fun couple of days, but all items are now back in their rightful homes,” the fire department posted to its Facebook Page Saturday afternoon.

After all demands had been met, members of the Corbin Police Department and the Corbin Fire Department reflected on the adventures of their respective items.

“I really enjoyed the ‘feud’,” said Corbin Fire Department Battalion Chief James Smith. “It blew up a lot bigger than we expected, but the community has always been very supportive of the PD and FD, and we appreciate the support. We have a really great group of police officers and firefighters. It was nice to let the community see that side of us because unfortunately most interactions with us are normally not under the best of circumstances.”

Patrick said, “The departments are all about poking fun at each other. It was nice to be able to have fun at their expense in a friendly way.”

Approximately 30 non-perishable food items were donated to the “Pack-the-Cruiser” food drive, which is a collaboration between Speedway and the Corbin Police Department.

“The cause was selected after we saw how much recognition the post was getting,” said Patrick. “We wanted to focus some of that energy into the food drive that we are helping with on the 26th.”

While Smith said he wouldn’t be surprised if something like a missing trophy and coffee pots happens again, Patrick said, “The fire department has already hinted at another round of fun. We are fully expecting some retaliation.”

If you would like to donate to the “Pack-the-Cruiser” food drive, the official drop-off for the items is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Speedway gas station on Exit 25 on Feb. 26, but individuals who wish to donate early can drop donations off at the Corbin Police Department.

Financial contributions can also be donated at the police department. Individuals can donate either cash or checks. If writing a check, please make it out to the Corbin Police Department and on the memo line put for the Speedway food drive.